Comune is a vegetarian restaurant in German Village, Columbus.
Comune on Parsons Avenue in Columbus's Schumacher Place runs a plant-forward dining room with a weekly seasonal menu off the German Village rotation.
Why locals love it: On Parsons Avenue in Schumacher Place rather than Short North, the plant-forward room pulls a weekly menu off the farm haul.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable; follow the Instagram for the day's pickup.
Address: 677 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206
The Sycamore on East Sycamore Street has been a Columbus German Village gathering room for over a century, now a natural wine bar with bar pizzas.
Why locals love it: On a side street off East Sycamore in German Village, the natural wine room sits in a 100+ year old building, walk-up only at the bar.
Tip: Walk-up bar seats are easy on weeknights; weekend dinner books up.
Joya's Cafe on High Street in Old Worthington Columbus is Avishar Barua's Bengali American daytime room (2024 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes semifinalist).
Why locals love it: Up High Street in Old Worthington (not Columbus core), the Bengali American daytime room from a 2024 James Beard semifinalist.
Tip: Mornings on weekdays are faster than weekend brunch.
Hoyo's Kitchen at North Market downtown serves Somali sambusas, suqaar and rice bowls for Columbus's significant Somali population since 2014.
Why locals love it: Inside North Market, the Hassan family's Somali counter is one of the few US Somali restaurants visible to non-Somali Columbus eaters.
Tip: Order the beef sambusa and a chicken suqaar over rice Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
The Sycamore on East Sycamore Street has been a Columbus German Village gathering room for over a century, now a natural wine bar with bar pizzas.
Why locals love it: On a side street off East Sycamore in German Village, the natural wine room sits in a 100+ year old building, walk-up only at the bar.
Tip: Walk-up bar seats are easy on weeknights; weekend dinner books up.
Tensuke Express at the Japan Marketplace in Columbus's Upper Arlington runs the bento, onigiri and ramen carryout counter inside Ohio's Japanese grocer.
Why locals love it: Inside Kenny Centre's Japan Marketplace in Upper Arlington, the bento and ramen counter sits behind the Japanese grocer.
Tip: Bento and onigiri are made fresh through the afternoon; arrive midday for the broadest selection.
Law Bird on South High Street is the intimate cocktail and natural wine bar from Luke and Annie Williams Pierce, with snacks and small plates.
Why locals love it: Tucked on South High Street between the Brewery District and German Village, the wife-and-husband natural wine and cocktail bar.
Tip: Walk-in friendly Tuesday through Thursday; the Cosmic Bird bottle shop next door sells the same bottles for retail.
Pho Asian Noodle House on West Lane Avenue in Columbus runs the city's reference Vietnamese counter for pho and banh mi at the OSU adjacent stretch.
Why locals love it: On West Lane Avenue near OSU, the college-adjacent counter pours the city's reference pho at a student-friendly price.
Tip: Avoid the OSU evening rush; lunch and early dinner move faster.
